Be creative and get out of the way of the professionals. Trust that they know how to do their part of your promotion.

It happened again; an artist made it difficult for someone to do their job.  I get it, we work really hard creating these compositions.  Putting a show inventory together and making sure everything is perfect, we just want it to look “just right”, and we get in the way of letting a gallery do what it does best.

Such a talent, they are going to go far but they could have gone farther if they would have just trusted that the gallery (who has been there for years) can do their job.  The gallery rep was tripping over the artist, trying to explain how they have been doing this for years and to trust it will be okay.  Nope, the artist argued and kept saying over and over; “I know what I am doing” Did they really?  Did the artist understand the traffic flow in the building?  How the lighting works and if things will show the way the artist wants to hang them?

There was also the paperwork, they didn’t get the appropriate paperwork to the gallery in time.  They didn’t communicate with the gallery about what they should bring and showed up with things the gallery didn’t really want and never brought the ones the gallery could sell.  No images for promotion, 3 days late getting the art there and the blank look on the artists face when the rep asked, “didn’t you read the emails I sent you?”  Well, no; came the reply.  I know what to bring. The artist clearly didn't, because it wasn't there.

I have said it over and over, 1 read the material, 2 meet the deadlines, 3 follow instructions and, 4 COMMUNICATE!  Call the day before you are supposed to leave and make sure you have everything the gallery wants. #5 is the most important, drop your work and get out of their way. You need to let them do their job.  It is the most important thing I have ever learned.  Everyone has a job to do and you need to let them do it.  Don’t try to do it for them, have faith and show them that their faith in you is deserved. 

Here is the final lesson; the gallery did everything it could for the artist but because the artist dropped the ball and then got in the way, the show didn't go very well for anyone.  The gallery looked like they were giving a second-rate artist with potential a chance, and the artist did a lot of work without the sales to show for it.  Critics walked through the door and judge the artist for blowing such an amazing opportunity.  The gallery lost sales because the artist didn't bring what the gallery wanted, and everyone was disappointed.  The artist won't get another chance in that area again for a long while because people know what the gallery is capable of hanging and that artist didn't bring it.

When we get in the way, we step on what could possibly be an amazing chance to advance our career.  I don't care where a gallery is, they know their clientele and how to hang for them; I don't.  When given an opportunity, make the most of it and let the professionals do their job.  Everyone wins in the end that way.  By the way, that gallery rep will talk to other gallery owners and explain how much of a pain in the ass that artist was.  Other galleries ask those questions and pay attention to the answer.  Selling art is a hard business and there are 20 other artists chomping at the bit to get a chance like that. Galleries know that and will trade a talented pain for a possible undiscovered star who will probably be grateful too.